Word Origin & History

earring O.E. earhring, from ear + hring (see ring (n.)). Now including any sort of ornament in the ear; the pendants were originally ear-drops (1720)."The two groups which had formerly a near monopoly on male earrings were Gypsies and sailors. Both has the usual traditions about eyesight [see ear (1)], but it was also said that sailors' earrings would save them from drowning, while others argued that should a sailor be drowned and washed up on some foreign shore, his gold earrings would pay for a proper Christian burial." ["Dictionary of English Folklore"]

Example Sentences for earrings

Madame Carpentier's earrings were two great pearls, worth at least two hundred dollars.

They had cut off the head of a woman found in the débris to get her earrings.

The earrings came nearer to curing Olga than all Dr. Forsyths medicine.

Genevieve, take them off for me; the earrings will square all!

Therewith she ran to her room, and in a few moments returned with a pair of earrings.

But it is in their earrings that the Phoenician ladies were most curious and most fanciful.

I don't think I ever saw him but once, and then he gave me a kiss and a pair of earrings.

And standing before the mirror at that moment, she caught sight of her earrings.

It pulled her earrings, and rumpled her hair, and crushed her lace collar, and she only kissed and held it closer.